Smartphones Can Automatically Dial the Veterans Crisis Line [Military Monday]

The VA has just announced an important tool for helping to battle Veteran suicide - an immediate response from SIRI.

In 2013, the VA released a study that said roughly 22 veterans die by suicide per day. The ongoing effort to help reduce the number of veteran suicide has finally lead to the use of smartphone technology.

If you, a family member or a friend is a Veteran that is having trouble adjusting to life at home, this new SIRI and Google Assistant feature can let them access help simply by saying " Call the Veteran's Crisis Line".

With that single voice command, both Siri and Google Assistant will automatically dial the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline even if the number is not saved in the caller's phone. Veterans can dial 1 and get connected to the Veteran's Crisis Line from there.

The ability to for Veterans to connect to the Veterans Crisis Line using just four simple words, and through a technology that so many people are familiar with already, is truly remarkable. While some suicidal crises last a long time, most last minutes to hours. The quicker we can get Veterans connected to care, the more likely they are to survive.

- Dr. Matt Miller, Director of the Veterans Crisis Line

Read the full article from the US Department of Veteran's Affairs here.

Military Mondays are sponsored by First Citizens Federal Credit Union.